diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstringbuffer.c b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstringbuffer.c
index 2989d06433..87d1ce2fb4 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstringbuffer.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/audio/gstringbuffer.c
@@ -1085,6 +1085,9 @@ gst_ring_buffer_start (GstRingBuffer * buf)
   if (G_UNLIKELY (!buf->acquired))
     goto not_acquired;
 
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (g_atomic_int_get (&buf->abidata.ABI.may_start) == FALSE))
+    goto may_not_start;
+
   /* if stopped, set to started */
   res = g_atomic_int_compare_and_exchange (&buf->state,
       GST_RING_BUFFER_STATE_STOPPED, GST_RING_BUFFER_STATE_STARTED);
@@ -1137,6 +1140,12 @@ not_acquired:
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (buf);
     return FALSE;
   }
+may_not_start:
+  {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (buf, "we may not start");
+    GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (buf);
+    return FALSE;
+  }
 }
 
 static gboolean